Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger
admits he is considering bringing his
German World Cup winners back into
the squad ahead of schedule for the
first leg of Tuesday's Champions
League play-off at Besiktas.
The Gunners travel to Turkey having made heavy
weather of their opening Premier League fixture at
home to managerless Crystal Palace, where a
stoppage-time goal from Aaron Ramsey secured a
2-1 victory against a side reduced to 10 men.
Wenger had given German trio Mesut Ozil, Per
Mertesacker and Lukas Podolski extra time off
following their nation's triumph in Brazil last month.
But with Kieran Gibbs having suffered a hamstring
injury against Palace and Jack Wilshere also taken off
early following a heavy challenge, the Frenchman
admitted he was tempted to issue a recall notice.
"The Champions League qualifier is a massive game
for us against Besiktas, we have a short time to
recover," said Wenger.
"Normally the German players would not play in that
game. We will have to see on Sunday but only in case
of emergency.
"Because of the physicality and the organisation level
of Crystal Palace it was very difficult for us. We
conceded a goal from the first corner they had
because we still lack a bit of pace in the final third
when we build up into dangerous situations.
"But we kept going and it was enough to win the
game. On the first day of the season we were the
only team to win at home so that shows you it is
difficult for everybody on the first day. We got the
three points we wanted, let's focus now on Besiktas."
Marquee summer signing Alexis Sanchez endured a
frustrating Premier League debut against a physical
Palace side.
The Chile forward, who cost £30million from
Barcelona, looked like a player who was getting used
to new surroundings.
"I am very happy with his attitude because he kept
on fighting for 90 minutes, even if he is not
completely ready physically," Wenger said.
"Tactically he needs to improve his understanding
with his partners but he looked lively and dangerous
until the end."
Palace were seconds away from securing a point
having taken the lead through Brede Hangeland's
header from a corner, with Laurent Koscielny
equalising just before halftime.
It was still level when Jason Puncheon was sent off
for two bookable offences with a minute to go.
A draw would have been a remarkable result given
that manager Tony Pulis had quit on Thursday night
because the board had only given him three new
players in the close season, of which Hangeland was
one.
Caretaker manager Keith Millen made it clear that
with the transfer window soon shutting a
replacement needed to be brought in as soon as
possible – and the players given a full explanation of
the board's plans.
"Tony loved working with this group day in, day out
and you couldn't ask for a group that works harder,"
he said.
"But the players need to know which direction the
club is going.
"Hopefully at the start of the week there will be
some more answers. We know we can compete at
this level but we have got to get more competition
for places. The players are waiting to be given a new
direction on the field and off the field.
"We've identified all the summer the areas we need
to strengthen but for whatever reason that's not
happened.
"The three players we've brought in all had excellent
debuts and have made us better but there are areas
where we need to strengthen as a club. Tony knew
what players he wanted and the club do."
Millen is open to taking the job permanently but it is
understood he is not being considered as a front-line
candidate.
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